Croatia's key players to watch in World Cup opener against England

Croatia will once again provide a stern test for England when the two sides meet in Wednesday's Group L opener of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ranked 11th in the world, the Croatian squad continues to defy the aging process, with a durable core that has remained competitive on the global stage. After finishing as runners-up in 2018 and third in 2022, Croatia boasts six players from the 2018 tournament, including the majority of regular midfielders and forwards now well into their 30s. BBC Sport takes a look at five key players England need to watch out for.

Luka Vuskovic: The teenage defensive prospect

Club: Tottenham Hotspur (on loan at Hamburg in 2025-26)
Age: 19
Position: Defender
Caps: 5
Goals: 1

The 6ft 4in teenager greatly enhanced his reputation during a loan spell in Germany in the 2025-26 season, helping promoted Hamburg finish 13th in the Bundesliga. Vuskovic was shortlisted for both the Bundesliga Player of the Season and Rookie of the Season awards, as voted by fans, clubs, and selected media. He could be the main beneficiary if Croatia plays with a three-man defence; his four starts for his country prior to the World Cup all came in the middle of a back three, and he scored in a March friendly win over Colombia. Head coach Zlatko Dalic said in April that Vuskovic "will be one of the pillars of our national team for the next 10 years."

Josko Gvardiol: The world-class defender

Club: Manchester City
Age: 24
Position: Defender
Caps: 48
Goals: 4

Gvardiol only returned to action on 13 May after a four-month absence caused by a fractured shinbone in his right leg, sustained during a Premier League draw against Chelsea. He started all 14 of Croatia's games across the past three major tournaments, with their opening Euro 2020 defeat by England marking his first start for the national side. That appearance made him Croatia's youngest ever player in a major tournament, aged 19. Gvardiol was hailed as "the best centre-back in the world" by Dalic during the 2022 World Cup. He played every minute for Croatia in Qatar and gave them the lead with a diving header in the third-place play-off victory over Morocco. He will likely play in central defence if Croatia opt for a back three, or else at left-back in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Luka Modric: The ageless captain

Club: AC Milan
Age: 40
Position: Midfielder
Caps: 198
Goals: 29

Croatia's captain and talisman has recovered from a fractured cheekbone suffered on 26 April to stay on course for his 200th cap this summer. FIFA only recognises three male players with more appearances for their country: Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Bader Al-Mutawa of Kuwait, and Argentina's Lionel Messi. Modric, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner, is yet to decide on his future following AC Milan's failure to qualify for the Champions League. He was heavily relied upon to dictate the team's tempo in the 2025-26 season and played his most league minutes (2,788) in a season since 2010-11 with Tottenham Hotspur. A glorious 13 years at Real Madrid began ignominiously when he was voted 'worst signing of 2012' in a poll by Madrid-based sports daily Marca. But Modric more than proved his worth, claiming 28 trophies, including six Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles at Real Madrid.

Petar Sucic: The emerging midfield force

Club: Inter Milan
Age: 22
Position: Midfielder
Caps: 17
Goals: 1

Sucic has won the domestic double in his first season in Italy and become a regular in central midfield for Croatia. He made six starts in World Cup qualifying — five in a box-to-box role and one in an advanced position at home to the Faroe Islands when Croatia switched to a 3-4-2-1 system. Renowned former Croatia international Robert Prosinecki said of him last summer: "Inter has found a player who can cover every midfield role, and I'm sure Sucic will become a pillar of the new era." He was born in Bosnia to Croatian parents and spent his childhood on the family farm there in a small village, helping to milk the cows in the mornings.